How Corrupt Prosecutors Get Away With Sending Innocent People to Jail

[Brewman_Jax]

http://www.alternet.org/rights/155437/ho...le_to_jail

From the article:

Quote:Prosecutors are arguably the most powerful figures in the American criminal justice system. They decide which charges to bring, what plea bargains to offer, and what sentences to request. Given their role in the system and the broad powers they exercise, it is critical that they discharge those duties responsibly and ethically.

But according to attorneys and criminal justice reform advocates, prosecutors across the country are misbehaving -- and getting away with it. While the most common forms of prosecutorial misconduct are hiding exculpatory evidence and engaging in improper examination and argumentation, another form of intentional misconduct is the knowing use of false testimony to win convictions.

"Perjury can easily undermine a defendant's right to a fair trial," said Chicago criminal defense attorney Leonard Goodman.

...

Legal experts say most prosecutors dedicate themselves to do an ethical and professional job, but that some prosecutors repeatedly commit misconduct because they realize they most likely will never face serious punishment. Prosecutors have immunity from civil liability for their misbehavior, and the legal system seems unable or unwilling to effectively police itself.

...

There has to be some kind of oversight for district attorneys because of the unfair nature of the justice system and the stakes are too high when they do wrong. Even the police have an internal affairs division.

When district attorneys start getting put on trial and thrown in jail for their misconduct and the legal havoc it wreaks, this will stop.

[jaxx]

They shouldn't have immunity from anything they do that is illegal. Jeez, what a farce.